Youngsters read to therapy dogs at Whitefish library
A girl reads to therapy dog Ande, with Ande's team member Susie Gonaver assisting.
The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (known as R.E.A.D.), visited Whitefish Community Library recently to demonstrate the power of partnering with a therapy animal to boost confidence and reading skills. Ande, Shelby and Kate are certified Therapy Dogs trained, along with their human team members, to help kids learn to read.
Ande’s Team member Susie Gonaver explained that R.E.A.D. is an outreach of the nonprofit Intermountain Therapy Animals. R.E.A.D.’s mission is “to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors.” Dogs are assessed for suitability for the program and dogs and their human team members are trained together.
R.E.A.D.’s popularity at the library is unquestioned. Readers have kept the pups booked and busy each Tuesday this summer. Ande, Shelby and Kate are taking August off. They’ll return to the library in September, ready to listen.
The library’s summer schedule shifts to music this week. The Instrument Petting Zoo from North Valley Music School returns for an encore on Thursday, July 28, at 10:30 a.m. Suitable for all ages, it’s a fun way to try a huge assortment of instruments. Deidre Corson of North Valley Music School provides an overview before the music begins.
For more information, call the library at 862-9914.